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3D printer that replicates parts? Oh joy!
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Dartful Dodger:

--- Quote from: scofthe7seas on July 13, 2011, 01:31:50 pm ---
--- Quote from: Nephasth on July 13, 2011, 12:05:43 am ---
--- Quote from: scofthe7seas on July 12, 2011, 11:54:20 pm ---...but the software couldn't know the inner workings of the wrench.
--- End quote ---

The inner workings of wrenches can be pretty complicated. ::)

--- End quote ---

The inner working of a baby rattle aren't complicated, but a scanning machine couldn't figure that out either. It's a surface scanner, not an X-ray.

--- End quote ---

If someone needs an x-ray to find out what's inside of a wrench, they shouldn't be making wrenches.

What's on the surface of a wrench is what's inside of it.
scofthe7seas:

--- Quote from: Dartful Dodger on July 13, 2011, 05:27:53 pm ---If someone needs an x-ray to find out what's inside of a wrench, they shouldn't be making wrenches.

What's on the surface of a wrench is what's inside of it.

--- End quote ---

That's not true. The wrench in question is a crescent wrench. The worm gear is nestled inside of the main wrench body, and the clamp teeth are also sheathed inside of the wrench. The scanner is only a surface scanner. Even if it could get those details, the model would still have to be manipulated so the pieces aren't fused together.
wonderalex:
I've used this off and on since 1999.

There are many techniques and technologies for rapid prototyping and 3D printing - each which its advantages and disadvantages.

My favourites are FDM machines like those from Dimension (www.dimensionprinting.com). They tend to use ABS plastics which are very strong and allow for some pretty amazing things. Working springs, gears and some impossible to manufacture shapes to name a few. Full disclosure  - we have one in the office - but they won't let me play with it.  :hissy:

Typically they (dimension printers) range from 15,000 (desktop) to 35,000 USD (topline - high rez) - the ZCorp printers make very detailed parts, but they're fragile (unless you dip them in what is essentially super-glue) and expensive (50K or more for a ZCorp machine). But there are some DYI kits  - like the MakerBot and RepRap.

And yes - the MakerBot is on my wish list. It will be mine. ;)

Wonderalex








djm858:

--- Quote from: Dartful Dodger on July 13, 2011, 05:27:53 pm ---
--- Quote from: scofthe7seas on July 13, 2011, 01:31:50 pm ---
--- Quote from: Nephasth on July 13, 2011, 12:05:43 am ---
--- Quote from: scofthe7seas on July 12, 2011, 11:54:20 pm ---...but the software couldn't know the inner workings of the wrench.
--- End quote ---

The inner workings of wrenches can be pretty complicated. ::)

--- End quote ---

The inner working of a baby rattle aren't complicated, but a scanning machine couldn't figure that out either. It's a surface scanner, not an X-ray.

--- End quote ---

If someone needs an x-ray to find out what's inside of a wrench, they shouldn't be making wrenches.

What's on the surface of a wrench is what's inside of it.

--- End quote ---

He's not saying it's impossible for a human to figure out a wrench without x-ray, he's talking about software that only uses a surface scanner as input.  When I watched this vid (with no sound cause I'm at work) I knew they had to have left out some step because the scanner couldn't possibly replicate that wrench in full working order.  It can't "see" the details of the thumb screw nor infer logically how it interacts to widen the mouth.
lilshawn:
if you had just a solid object like a statue or the handle off of an item, you could 3D scan it.

but it's far easier to pull up a CAD drawing of a wrench and print it out than it would be to scan it and then have to go back and cut parts out and stitch the pieces together again. although if you separated the wrench into it's individual parts, then, yes you could just 3D scan it.

it just looks fishy cause of the way the program was put together.... to the white collar guy it's perfectly logical, but to us blue collars, we know better. i imagine they dumbed it down for the average viewer. no big deal.

still cool though.
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